A FORMER carpenter who has been living in his car for months has finally been given accommodation after the Advertiser approached the borough council to help him.

Bill Webber was unable to continue working due to severe brain injuries following a car crash and other incidents, which led to a drastic life change.

The 60-year-old says that in March this year he was forced to leave his home and has been living his 2008 Ford Fusion ever since.

Bill, originally from Ludgershall, had parked up in several locations through Andover and the wider area. One of those spots was a camping site in Goodworth Clatford, which allowed him to travel to an Andover sports centre to use the showers – which at one time cost him his last £2.50.

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“To have to live outside on the streets or in fields for five months now, with no possibility of being housed in suitable accommodation, in the area where I have lived for 50 years, or more, is too much to deal with,” Bill said.

“I don’t remember ever feeling like I wanted to give up before.”

After learning about Bill’s situation the Advertiser contacted Test Valley Borough Council to see if anything could be done to help him.

Last week Bill was finally moved into temporary accommodation, before permanent housing can be arranged for him in the area.

While the council cannot comment on individual cases, a council spokesperson said: “Our housing team works tirelessly often above and beyond our duty of care to ensure we can offer the best help possible to those who need it. Those who consider themselves homeless or at risk of becoming homeless can get free housing advice from our Housing Options Team.

“Though individuals often have complex circumstances when they first speak to us, or we reach out to them, it’s always fantastic to be able to engage with them and be able to offer them accommodation as sometimes those we speak to don’t always accept our assistance.”

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The authority has made a commitment to end rough sleeping in Test Valley for good, and anyone who is genuinely faced with sleeping rough will not have to do so without first receiving an offer of accommodation and support.

Andover's MP Kit Malthouse said: "We’re on a mission to end rough sleeping, and the latest funding - £212million from the £435million Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme - was allocated to local authorities earlier this year. In North West Hampshire, we have secured around £1.5 million with Test Valley receiving just over £913,000. This money is designed to end the revolving door whereby rough sleepers accept help, are placed in short term accommodation such as a hostel, but then they too often find themselves back on the streets because their underlying mental health or addictions have not been tackled. We are changing this.

"The money we are providing will get people off our streets and into longer term accommodation, often converted old buildings that were in a state of disrepair. Importantly, ongoing support is attached to this accommodation – once they are in their new home, they will be helped by specialist staff such as health workers and counsellors. They will get help to kick their addictions, and find training or work, so they can find their path to stability at last. Whilst I never discuss individual cases publicly, my team is always available to help."